US Senate Passes Funding Bill as Historic Government Shutdown Nears End

Key Highlights:

• The US Senate approved a crucial funding bill in a 60-40 vote on November 10, 2025, potentially ending the longest government shutdown in American history after 41 days
• The Congressional Budget Office estimates the shutdown reduced fourth-quarter GDP by $18 billion, with permanent losses between $7-14 billion
• Approximately 1.4 million federal employees have been furloughed or working without pay since October 1, 2025, while 42 million Americans faced disrupted SNAP food assistance

Opening Overview

The US Senate passes funding bill in a landmark decision that brings the nation one step closer to concluding its unprecedented 41-day government shutdown, the longest in American history. In a late Monday evening vote, the Senate approved the critical funding legislation by a margin of 60-40, with eight Democrats breaking ranks to join Republicans in supporting the measure that extends government operations through January 30, 2026. The US Senate passes funding bill following intensive weekend negotiations that bridged a political divide over healthcare subsidies and government spending, offering relief to approximately 1.4 million federal employees who have been furloughed or working without pay since the shutdown began on October 1, 2025.

The measure now advances to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where Speaker Mike Johnson has pledged to expedite a vote as early as Wednesday, before sending it to President Donald Trump for his signature.​ The economic toll of the shutdown has been severe, with the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimating that fourth-quarter GDP declined by $18 billion, or 0.24 percent, due to reduced federal spending on employee compensation, goods and services, and food assistance programs. As the US Senate passes funding bill to address this crisis, analysts warn that while most economic losses will be recovered once government operations resume, between $7 billion and $14 billion in GDP will be permanently lost.

The prolonged impasse has disrupted essential services across the nation, from air travel—with more than 2,400 flights cancelled and 9,000 delayed on November 10 alone—to food benefits for 42 million low-income Americans enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The bipartisan compromise, though criticized by some Democratic leaders for failing to secure concrete guarantees on expiring healthcare subsidies, represents a significant breakthrough in ending the fiscal standoff that has paralyzed federal operations for six weeks.​

Senate Vote Breakdown and Bipartisan Compromise

Democratic Defectors Enable Bill Passage

• Seven Democratic senators and one Independent joined all but one Republican in approving the funding measure
• Senate Republicans needed to clear the 60-vote threshold despite holding only a 53-47 majority in the chamber
• Kentucky Senator Rand Paul was the sole Republican to vote against the bill alongside the majority of Democrats

The US Senate passes funding bill after a dramatic voting session that saw significant Democratic defection from party leadership. Democratic Senators Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jackie Rosen, and Jeanne Shaheen voted in favor of the Republican-backed measure, joined by Maine Independent Angus King who caucuses with Democrats. The US Senate passes funding bill with this bipartisan coalition overcoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s objections, as he criticized the package for failing to “do anything of substance to fix America’s healthcare crisis”.

The compromise was negotiated over the weekend between Senate Majority Leader John Thune, White House officials, and key Democratic senators including Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, and Angus King.​Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, among the Democrats who supported the measure, defended his decision by emphasizing the urgent need to restore pay for federal workers, stating that constituents in his state were “saying thank you” for ending the impasse. The US Senate passes funding bill despite fierce criticism from prominent Democrats like California Governor Gavin Newsom, who earlier characterized the compromise as “pathetic” for lacking concrete healthcare guarantees.

Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine who played a crucial role in drafting the legislation, celebrated the passage by declaring: “We are going to reopen government, we are going to ensure that federal employees will now receive compensation that they’re earned and deserve”. The announcement was made to a largely empty Senate chamber, though the remaining senators broke into applause and cheers.​

Contents of the Funding Package

• Government operations funded through January 30, 2026, providing temporary relief while longer-term negotiations continue
• Full-year appropriations for the Department of Agriculture, FDA, military construction, veterans’ services, and congressional operations
• Backpay guarantees for all federal workers and SNAP funding extended through September 2026

The US Senate passes funding bill containing several key provisions designed to restore essential government services while postponing contentious policy debates. The legislation includes three-year funding allocations for the Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration, ensuring stability for critical food safety and agricultural programs. The US Senate passes funding bill with guaranteed backpay for all federal employees who missed paychecks during the 41-day shutdown, addressing a primary concern for the estimated 670,000 furloughed workers and 730,000 employees who continued working without compensation.​

Critically, the US Senate passes funding bill with provisions extending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding through September 2026, resolving the immediate crisis facing 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits. The SNAP program costs approximately $8.5 billion monthly, and the shutdown had forced the USDA to order states to issue only 65 percent of November benefits, creating hardship for one in eight Americans dependent on food assistance. The agreement also includes a commitment for a separate December vote on extending Affordable Care Act healthcare subsidies that are scheduled to expire this year, though Senate Majority Leader John Thune promised the vote while House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated he would not bring the measure to the House floor.​

Economic Impact and Federal Workforce Crisis

GDP Losses and Macroeconomic Effects

The US Senate passes funding bill in response to mounting economic damage quantified by the Congressional Budget Office in comprehensive analyses released during the shutdown. The CBO estimates that real GDP in the fourth quarter of 2025 declined by $18 billion in constant 2025 dollars, representing a 0.24 percent reduction compared to what economic output would have been without the shutdown. The US Senate passes funding bill acknowledging that this translates to an annualized quarterly growth rate impact of negative 1.0 percentage points for the fourth quarter.

While most of the economic decline will be recovered once federal spending resumes and furloughed employees return to work, the CBO projects that between $7 billion and $14 billion in GDP will be permanently lost, representing economic activity that cannot be recaptured.​The economic damage intensified the longer the shutdown persisted, with estimates suggesting losses of up to $16 billion per week in continued impasse. The US Senate passes funding bill as economic activity at the end of 2025 declined due to three primary factors identified by the CBO: fewer services provided by federal workers, temporarily lower federal spending on goods and services and SNAP benefits, and reduced aggregate demand that lowered output in the private sector.

The shutdown’s economic impact exceeded the previous record 35-day shutdown during the 2018-2019 period, which resulted in an estimated $3 billion in lost GDP. White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett warned that economic growth could decline further in the fourth quarter if air travel disruptions persisted through the Thanksgiving holiday on November 27.​

Federal Workforce Disruption

• Approximately 670,000 federal employees furloughed without pay since October 1, 2025
• Another 730,000 federal employees required to work without compensation during the shutdown
• 1.3 million active-duty military personnel and over 750,000 National Guard and reserve personnel serving potentially without pay

The US Senate passes funding bill to address the unprecedented hardship facing the federal workforce, with at least 670,000 employees furloughed and approximately 730,000 continuing to work without pay since the shutdown began. The first pay date resulting in zero compensation for federal workers occurred on October 24, 2025, and October 31 marked a historic milestone as potentially the first time members of all military branches missed paychecks due to a government shutdown. The US Senate passes funding bill after the Trump administration reallocated $8 billion to cover active-duty military pay for the October 15 pay date, but 1.3 million active-duty personnel and over 750,000 National Guard and reserve personnel remained at risk of unpaid service.​

The Bipartisan Policy Center calculated that if the shutdown had continued through December 1, roughly 4.5 million paychecks totaling approximately $21 billion in wages would have been withheld from federal civilian employees. The US Senate passes funding bill as certain agencies experienced particularly severe furlough rates, with the Environmental Protection Agency seeing 88.6 percent of employees furloughed, the Department of Education at 86.5 percent, Commerce at 80.8 percent, and Labor at 75.8 percent. The Defense Department civilian workforce alone saw nearly 335,000 employees furloughed, representing the largest single-agency impact. Federal workers turned to food banks in increasing numbers as paychecks were missed, highlighting the personal financial crisis created by the prolonged shutdown.​

Service Disruptions and Public Impact

Air Travel Chaos

The US Senate passes funding bill after nationwide air travel descended into chaos, with more than 2,400 flights cancelled across the United States on November 10 according to airline traffic tracker FlightAware, while at least 9,000 additional flights experienced delays. The disruptions stemmed from staffing shortages at the Transportation Security Administration and air traffic control facilities, where workers continued reporting to duty without pay but faced mounting financial pressures. The US Senate passes funding bill as House Speaker Mike Johnson called members back to Washington “immediately” due to travel disruptions that made it difficult for representatives to reach the capital.

The aviation crisis intensified pressure on lawmakers to resolve the shutdown, with frustrated travelers voicing their anger at airports nationwide.​ The Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration, classified as essential agencies, continued operations during the shutdown but with reduced staffing and increasing absenteeism as workers struggled without paychecks. The US Senate passes funding bill recognizing that continued air travel disruptions posed significant economic risks, particularly with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching on November 27, when millions of Americans typically travel. The aviation sector’s operational challenges illustrated the broader cascading effects of the shutdown on economic activity and public services beyond directly affected federal agencies.​

Food Assistance Crisis

• SNAP benefits serve 42 million Americans, approximately one in eight people nationwide
• USDA ordered states to issue only 65 percent of November benefits, down from initial 50 percent directive
• Monthly SNAP costs approximately $8.5 billion in federal funding

The US Senate passes funding bill addressing the critical food assistance crisis that threatened 42 million low-income Americans dependent on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The shutdown triggered a complex legal battle over SNAP funding, with the USDA initially warning states that food stamp payments would not be issued for November. The US Senate passes funding bill after a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the USDA to tap into a $4.6 billion contingency fund to cover benefit lapses, prompting the Trump administration to direct states to issue 65 percent of maximum allotments rather than the initially planned 50 percent.

The USDA subsequently issued conflicting directives, ordering states on November 9 to halt full SNAP benefit issuance and to “immediately undo” any full allotments already distributed.​The administrative chaos left beneficiaries—representing one in eight Americans—in uncertainty about their food assistance. The US Senate passes funding bill with provisions extending SNAP funding through September 2026, resolving the immediate crisis and ensuring consistent benefit delivery. States that failed to comply with the USDA’s directives during the shutdown faced threats of losing federal cost-sharing for SNAP administration and potential financial liability for over-issued benefits.

The food assistance disruption highlighted the vulnerability of critical safety net programs during funding lapses, as food banks reported surges in demand from both SNAP recipients facing reduced benefits and federal workers missing paychecks.​

House Vote and Presidential Signature Required

Legislative Path Forward

The US Senate passes funding bill, but the legislation must still clear the Republican-controlled House of Representatives before reaching President Trump’s desk for signature. House Speaker Mike Johnson called members back to Washington immediately after the Senate vote, scheduling debate on the measure beginning Wednesday, November 13. The US Senate passes funding bill with Republicans holding only a two-seat majority in the House, meaning every vote will be critical to passage. Johnson has expressed his intention to expedite the process, telling reporters: “We’ll be opening up our country very quickly”.​

The House has been out of session and away from Washington since mid-September, an unusually prolonged recess during the government funding crisis. The US Senate passes funding bill as President Trump signaled his willingness to sign the legislation if it reaches his desk, stating in the Oval Office: “the deal is very good”. Trump’s endorsement provides crucial support for House passage, as Republican members typically align with the president’s position on major legislation. However, the timeline for House consideration remains uncertain, with members needing to review the legislation and conduct their own debate process before voting.​

Political Divisions and Healthcare Controversy

The US Senate passes funding bill despite sharp internal divisions within the Democratic Party over the compromise’s handling of healthcare subsidies. The agreement includes only a commitment for a December vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies that help tens of millions of Americans purchase health insurance through government exchanges, rather than concrete legislative language guaranteeing the extension.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune promised to bring the healthcare measure for a vote by the second week of December, but House Speaker Johnson stated explicitly that he would not bring the measure to the House floor for consideration.​The US Senate passes funding bill over objections from high-profile Democrats who argued their colleagues capitulated without securing meaningful concessions on healthcare policy. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the decision “pathetic,” while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the package for failing to address “America’s healthcare crisis”.

The Democratic senators who voted for the compromise defended their decision by prioritizing the immediate need to restore federal employee pay and reopen government services, with Senator Tim Kaine noting that federal workers he represents were “saying thank you” for ending the standoff. The US Senate passes funding bill establishing a precedent for resolving future funding disputes, though the healthcare subsidy issue remains unresolved and will return as a political flashpoint in December.​

Closing Assessment

The US Senate passes funding bill in a significant bipartisan breakthrough that brings the nation within days of ending the longest and most economically damaging government shutdown in American history. The 60-40 Senate vote on November 10, 2025, represents a crucial step toward restoring federal operations and compensating the 1.4 million employees who have been furloughed or working without pay for 41 days. The US Senate passes funding bill with economic urgency as the Congressional Budget Office quantifies fourth-quarter GDP losses at $18 billion, with permanent economic damage estimated between $7 billion and $14 billion that will never be recovered.

As the legislation advances to the House of Representatives for expected passage this week, millions of Americans affected by service disruptions—from cancelled flights to reduced food assistance—await the restoration of normal government functions.​ The compromise funding measure extends government operations only through January 30, 2026, setting the stage for renewed fiscal battles early next year over long-term spending priorities and contentious policy issues like healthcare subsidies. The US Senate passes funding bill demonstrating that bipartisan cooperation remains possible under extreme economic pressure, though the fractured Democratic caucus and postponed healthcare debate signal continuing partisan tensions.

President Trump’s endorsement and House Speaker Johnson’s commitment to expedited consideration suggest the shutdown will likely conclude by mid-November, but the temporary nature of the funding extension means federal agencies and employees may face renewed uncertainty in just two months. The historic 41-day shutdown leaves lasting questions about the sustainability of using funding lapses as political leverage, given the severe economic costs and disruption to essential services that affect millions of Americans.